Grand National Party “Active Peacekeeping” Policy toward North Korea

[imText1]National Assembly Representative Kim Hyong O, through the National Assembly meeting’s opening speech on the 5th explained, “The direction of the Grand National Party’s North Korean policy is ‘active peacekeeping’ and “against the background of definite superiority of our national power, confidence, and democratic society system, helping the sacrifice of North Korea’s economy to make a ‘North-South economic cooperative.’”

Representative Kim made an attempt to differentiate, “An active peacekeeping which is on a different dimension with a ‘passive peacekeeping’ for the maintenance of the divided setup or preserving the present situation of the left-wing.”

After the February 13th talks, the Grand National Party has prepared a new North Korean policy predicting change with the basis of North Korea’s cooperation. Through quite a bit of adverse criticism from within the party, the new North Korean policy is becoming known as “active peacekeeping” which espouses an exchange of cooperation between North and South Korea while preserving the essentials of a strategy for safety and discarding of nuclear weapons.

Representative Kim said, “After the North Korean nuclear problem is resolved, we will support the progress and development of providing earnest support for North Korea” and revealed the three basic elements for resolving the nuclear weapons issue: ▲Discarding of nuclear weapons, principles of nonproliferation ▲Mutual compliance with international society’s effort and progress in North-South relations ▲Willingness to carry the burdens for resolving the North’s nuclear weapons.

Accordingly, the principle of the peace policy toward North Korea which should be earnestly pursued after resolving North Korean nuclear weapons, will consist of three items:
▲The aim for reunification and building a peace system on the peninsula based on a democratic society ▲ Expansion of the policy of peaceful coexistence according to the North-South Mutual Agreement, and ▲Pursuit of cooperation of exchange by both sides.

Further, he said, “We will actively step forward to resolve the human rights issues, reunions for separated families, and pending humanitarian questions.”

”Active peacekeeping” was first discussed after the intention to change North Korean policy was revealed following suit to the normalization of US-North Korean relations and the progress of North-South relations in the February 13th agreement.

Spokesperson Na Kyung Won said in a meeting with Daily NK, “Items of change in the policy toward North Korea is yet incomplete, but it is definite that “active peacekeeping” has become the keynote policy.”